Microsoft describes Windows 8 as Windows re-imagined. I would add to that, with Metro. From the lock-screen to the boot-time recovery manager, the next version of Windows has embraced the Microsoft Metro design language to the core. It is undeniable the biggest design and user experience changes to Windows since Windows 95.

We're here in Anaheim, California at Microsoft's BUILD conference. As has become tradition Microsoft has been holding major developer conferences for their new OSes roughly a year ahead of launch. In 2008 developers and the press got their first in-depth look at Windows 7 at Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference (PDC), and here in 2011 BUILD is doing much the same for Windows 8.

Daniel Robinson, V3.co.uk Automatic security and technical checks built into app store for Windows 8 ANAHEIM: Microsoft has confirmed that it will offer an online application store to complement Windows 8 that will offer a safe way to download new applications while making it easier...

Daniel Robinson, V3.co.uk Next version of Windows features new UI and programming model in most radical overhaul yet ANAHEIM: Windows 8 looks set to be the most radical overhaul of Microsoft's platform yet, with a greater emphasis on touch input, close integration with cloud-based services, and new ways...

Windows 8 has been shown off for developers at the Microsoft conference Build - and although the version is not complete, there are some key differences that we can pluck out from its popular predecessor. Windows 7 was a big hit for Microsoft, following on from the troublesome Windows Vista and reminding people that the Redmond giant was not quite ready to hang up its code just yet. And Windows 8 will now try to build on that and show that Windows can work on anything from tablets to televisions, and still dominate on laptops and desktops. Hands on: Windows 8 reviewHere are 8 key differences that Windows 8 brings...

As expected, Microsoft is using its Build developer conference to distribute a pre-beta, developer preview version of Windows 8 (for x86 PCs only; the hardware to run the ARM version on isn't finished yet). Windows 8 is Microsoft's combined desktop, laptop and tablet operating system, designed to go from 10-inch touch-only tablets to big screens in your living room, from ultra-portable notebooks to massive gaming systems and business desktops. It's got the Windows Phone 7 Metro-style touch interface of live tiles, the Metro programming model for building web apps and native apps that run full screen and share information. Windows 8 also features gestures to put two apps on screen side by side, and the traditional Windows desktop for when you need richer apps like the ones we've been using in Windows for years. That's a combination no other single operating system can offer - but how well does it work?

Microsoft has officially lifted the lid on Windows 8, with a developer build of the next generation operating system arriving at the Build conference. Windows 8 is aiming to prove that the familiar Microsoft operating system has a future not only on desktops and laptops, but also tablets and televisions. That means the touch-friendly Metro-style tile interface that is familiar to users of Windows Phone 7 and better support for web apps. Key goalThe key for Microsoft is coming up with an OS that not only supports touch and big screens, but can also keep hold of the traditional computing audience who like the desktop and familiar file systems.

We got a taste of Windows 8 back at D9, but the real bounty is waiting in Anaheim. The company's kicking off its Build conference with a full-on developer preview of its next major desktop operating system, still code-named Windows 8 for the time being. According to Steven Sinofsky -- president of the Windows and Windows Live Division at Microsoft -- the company has "reimagined Windows," bringing about a "new range of capabilities" that coders will begin to dig into sooner rather than later.

Curious what the minimum specifications for Windows 8 will be? As are we. Microsoft's remaining mum on specifics, but the outfit's Steven Sinofsky -- President of Windows and Windows Live -- just confessed during the opening Build 2011 keynote that an antediluvian Lenovo S10 was potent enough to run Windows 8.

If you’ve been following this blog, then you know today is a big day for the Windows team. At the BUILD conference we are about to preview Windows 8. There’s a ton to see in the product and so we’d really encourage everyone to check out the available streams on http://buildwindows.com, where we will webcast the keynote. The BUILD conference this week is focused on developers and hardware partners, and there are over 100 sessions (all of which will be available from the link above within about a day of the scheduled presentation time). In that sense it is good to keep in mind that today is the launch of the developer opportunity for Windows, not the launch of a product (and certainly not the launch of new devices).

Windows 8 represents a reimagining of Windows from the chipset to the experience. Since this is a week focused on developers, we also detailed the bold underpinnings of the re-imagination of the Windows platform, tools, and APIs. We will show off the opportunity to build applications for all of the customers of Windows 8, no matter what type of PC they have—from tablets to laptops to convertibles to desktops. We will show the brand new tools that allow you to code Metro style applications in HTML5/JavaScript, C/C++, and/or C#/XAML. The investments you have made as developers in all of these languages carry forward for Windows 8, which lets you choose how to best make use of the Windows 8 system services. We talked about Windows 8 being a no-compromise OS for end-users, and it is also a no-compromise platform for developers.

As the Windows 8 Developer Preview is soon to in the wild, most people might find the new shell and user experience a little difficult to settle into. Here are a few simple tips and less-known features I?ve accumulated to help you master the new Start experience.

Microsoft has taken the wrapping off its shiny new operating system Windows 8, revealing a re-imagined OS that is optimised for tablets and PCs, emphasises touch-first browsing and boasts full screen apps, not to mention some snazzy power saving capabilities.

Daniel Robinson, V3.co.uk Windows To Go will allow full Windows 8 to run from a memory stick Among the intriguing snippets that Microsoft divulged about Windows 8 at its Build developer conference is that the platform will be able to run from a USB memory stick.

Microsoft has unveiled the first-ever Windows 8 tablet, built by Samsung, which it is giving away to developers attending this week's Build conference.The Samsung Windows Developer Preview PC, which is essentially the Samsung Series 7 tablet, will come loaded with the developer build of the new Windows 8 operating system.

Got a brain full of Windows 8? Can't stop obsessing about it? Fret not -- as of 8PM PT this evening (just under eight hours from now), you'll be able to download a copy of the Windows Developer Preview to your machine from dev.windows.com. Per usual, we'd recommend doing so on a separate partition (or a spare machine altogether) in order to prevent unforeseen conflicts, and we'd also suggest having a stiff glass of patience waiting nearby.

It's just not a developer conference these days without a big giveaway, and Microsoft's now come through on that front at Build. The company announced during its keynote that it's giving away 5,000 Samsung-built developer "PCs" to attendees, and that AT&T will throw in a year of 3G service (2GB per month) for good measure. And, yes, if you haven't noticed, Microsoft is intent on calling every Windows 8 device a "PC," even tablets.

Microsoft shows Windows 8 on existing Ultrabooks, acts like it's never seen a thin laptop before

The majority of first-gen Ultrabooks aren't on sale yet -- not even with Windows 7 -- but Microsoft's already showing off tomorrow's best and brightest with Windows 8. We already knew that Windows 8 would theoretically run on a now-ancient Lenovo S10, but if you're concerned about "futureproofing,"

There's not a ton of details on this just yet, but Microsoft confirmed during its Build keynote today that Windows 8 devices equipped with an NFC chip will be able to use a tap-to-share feature to either send content from one device to another, or simply receive content from something like an NFC-equipped card.

Oh, sure -- you've already started digging into the upcoming Windows Store (or, at least what it'll deliver), but Microsoft just revealed a cute little nugget about its future functionality here at Build 2011.